September 22, 2016 – Professor Eugene Volokh commented on ABC News Online on a Black Lives Matter protest that sparked more debate on whether defense attorneys have freedom of expression within courtrooms; the protest grew from an incident involving a deputy public defender in Las Vegas who wore a Black Lives Matter pin in court.

A three-judge panel of the 1st U.S Circuit Court of Appeals stated, “An attorney is free, like all Americans, to hold political sentiments. In a courtroom setting, however, lawyers have no absolute right to wear such feelings on their sleeves (or lapels, for that matter).”

Professor Volokh said these limits on political speech in court could spark more controversy by opening the door to more racial tension.